THE ANTHRAX SCARE
Oahu joins U.S. Local television, radio and newspaper officials have agreed to help the city ease public panic regarding possible terrorist biological attacks on Oahu.
in call for calm
Mayor Jeremy Harris asks the
leaders of the island's media to help
inform and educate the publicBy Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comMayor Jeremy Harris made the request yesterday morning after meeting with the media, asking that everyone spread the word to keep calm and keep the community informed.
"They've asked if we would help educate people about anthrax and alert people to the fact that Honolulu is as prepared as any city in the nation," said Star-Bulletin Publisher Don Kendall. "In a situation like this, we all told them that we would cooperate as well we could."
Harris made a specific request to all four television stations that they more frequently air a 30-second public service announcement that features him and Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue.
During the spot, both Donohue and Harris urge people to "check their mail" as usual and to place any suspicious packages in plastic bags and report it to police. The spot also asks people to keep an eye out for "suspicious activity" and to call the police hot line at CALL-HPD (225-5473).
All four television stations have agreed to a "roadblock," or set time next week when all stations will run the PSA together, KHON General Manager Bill Spellman said.
"That way, anybody watching local news will be exposed to this PSA," he said. Stations also have agreed to run the spot repeatedly.
"We'll run it every day, maybe five to 10 times daily," said Spellman. "We have a commitment to public service to begin with, and part of our responsibility as a broadcaster is to give back to the public."
The city also has bought TV time for a 30-minute educational video on KGMB and KHNL, and also plans to air the program on the other stations.
KITV General Manager Mike Rosenberg described the agreement as "an effort to try and educate people about the potential problems without trying to scare them.
"There's a fine line there," he added.
Aside from education, Harris asked media to assist with getting needed updates out to the public. Cox Radio General Manager Austin Vali said radio stations will be responsible for the first line of information.
"If need be, we want to be able warn people, tell them about precautions they can take, but not panic them," said Vali. "In radio we can hand our announcers a piece of paper, and they can put it on the air -- we reach people on their way to work, at work and on their way home before they're opening their mail."
Executives from the Honolulu Advertiser and the Star-Bulletin said Harris made no specific request of the print media. However, both said their respective papers would be willing to run full-page public service announcements if needed.
"I think we have a responsibility to do this as a corporate citizen," said Advertiser President and Publisher Michael Fisch. "Clearly the public has a right to know, and, as always, we have a responsibility to handle news in a responsible fashion."
Added Kendall, "This is a time for public safety, and we're going to bend over backwards to work with the city."
Honolulu Emergency Services Director Salvatore Lanzilotti, identified by Harris as a "resource" for media questions, said that since 1997 he and other city officials have been working on preparedness as a part of a federally funded program to help local governments deal with terrorist attacks.
"Our paramedics know how to identify and treat symptoms stemming from anthrax and the plague and other bio-agents that could be used in terrorist attacks," Lanzilotti said. "Antidotes to chemical attacks such as sarin will be going into our ambulances next week.
"People are frightened, but they also need to know we've been working on this for several years and that we're ready."
Safe handling of suspicious packages
The state Department of Health has issued the following recommendations when it comes to handling potential biological threats and anthrax. Upon receiving an envelope or package that is suspected to contain a biological threat, health officials suggest the following:>> Do not panic.
>> Try to contact the person who sent the package.
>> Do not shake or empty contents.
>> If an envelope with powder spills out onto the surface, do not try to clean up the powder. Cover the spilled contents immediately using whatever is close by.
>> If a plastic or other airtight container is available, place the envelope or package inside.
>> Leave the room, and close the door or section off the area to prevent others from entering.
>> Wash hands with soap and water to prevent anthrax from infecting face. Shower with soap and water as soon as possible. Do not use bleach or other disinfectants on your skin.
>> Report the incident to police and the local branch of the FBI.
>> Make a list of all the people who were in the room or area when the suspicious package was recognized, and give this list to police and/or federal investigators.
On the web
For more information about biochemical terrorism and protection against it, check these Web sites:>> Centers for Disease Control: www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/Agentlist.asp
>> Johns Hopkins University: www.hopkins-biodefense.org/index.html
>> Hawaii State Civil Defense: www.scd.state.hi.us/1_homepage/homepage.htm
